They Might Be Giants Dial-a-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants Given the unrelentingly giddy, goofy nature of They Might Be Giants, it's a mystery how the duo made it two decades without compromising its mix of smarts and silliness. "Dial-a-Song" collects two discs' worth of John Flansburgh's and John Linnell's work as They Might Be Giants, ranging from geek anthems like "Ana Ng" and "Don't Let's Start" to more recent songs such as "Doctor Worm" and "Boss...

In They Might Be Giants, John Flansburgh is Roger Ebert. John Linnell is Gene Siskel. "Sure. Yeah. That's right," says Linnell, who has been collaborating with Flansburgh since the early '80s, when the high school friends moved to Brooklyn to form a rock band. "There's something very likable about Ebert, but I tended to agree with Siskel more often, with his reviews, even though he was obviously a big curmudgeon and a grump. " Linnell, 53, continues the metaphor. For years, the...

They Might Be Giants Factory Showroom (Elektra) (star) (star) (star) John Linnell and John Flansburgh pop off another groovy little vaudeville ditty with their fifth recording. The mirthful New York duo, accompanied by a capable five-man band, conjure a demented, riotously engaging "Factory Showroom" brimming with a warehouse of pop-culture references and musical homages. Part of They Might Be Giants' cult appeal is that, like the stage show, you never know which...

John Flansburgh and John Linnell started making music in high school in Massachusetts in the late 1970s. The duo, now known as They Might be Giants, experimented with sounds and words on their four-track in their parents' basement. "We were the perfect age to get pulled into the New Wave explosion. It was a very empowering moment for people interested in music," said guitarist and vocalist Flansburgh. New Wave, he said, resurrected "the concise song, compressed thought and very direct use of melody.

John Flansburgh and John Linnell started making music in high school in Massachusetts in the late 1970s. The duo, now known as They Might be Giants, experimented with sounds and words on their four-track in their parents' basement. "We were the perfect age to get pulled into the New Wave explosion. It was a very empowering moment for people interested in music," said guitarist and vocalist Flansburgh. New Wave, he said, resurrected "the concise song, compressed thought and very direct use of melody.

They are free. As artists, John Linnell and John Flansburgh, the quirky alternative pop duo better known as They Might Be Giants, savor doing things just as they want them done, producing smartly crafted music whose influences range from polka and country to Elvis Costello and cartoon music. "Freedom, as an artist, is really about doing something you think is good and not trying to second-guess what you're doing," says Linnell, the slight, typically low-key half of the duo. "Our music doesn't have a purpose.

Was it live, or was it Memorex? It's difficult to tell when you listen to They Might Be Giants. In concert Friday night at the Cabaret Metro, TMBG proved that they are talented, if not overly eccentric, songwriters and that their bizarre brand of catchy pop can overcome the absolute lack of a live rhythm section. Nevertheless, it was an unusual experience. There was no drummer and no bass player to back these guys up. They appeared on a virtually empty stage. ...

They Might Be Giants Dial-a-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants Given the unrelentingly giddy, goofy nature of They Might Be Giants, it's a mystery how the duo made it two decades without compromising its mix of smarts and silliness. "Dial-a-Song" collects two discs' worth of John Flansburgh's and John Linnell's work as They Might Be Giants, ranging from geek anthems like "Ana Ng" and "Don't Let's Start" to more recent songs such as "Doctor Worm" and "Boss...

The sound of discovery-of a band breaking down expectations and revealing something wholly unexpected-is thrilling. Long past the age when many of us should have "outgrown" rock `n` roll, we remain fans because the best of it still takes us by surprise. Two bands at Cabaret Metro over the weekend, They Might Be Giants and the Chills, rewarded that faith in varying degrees. They Might Be Giants, who entertained sellout crowds Saturday and Sunday, have surprised...

This weekend's Chicago sojourn of "McSweeney's vs. They Might Be Giants" was billed as a mighty collision between literature and music; an uber-hip extravaganza of man-mountains of staggering interdisciplinary genius. Author Dave Eggers, the ironist-editor of Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern -- that esoteric and always poorly copy edited literary quarterly -- sure can draw a crowd. And the typical fan of They Might Be Giants is a nice person with the patience to...

They are free. As artists, John Linnell and John Flansburgh, the quirky alternative pop duo better known as They Might Be Giants, savor doing things just as they want them done, producing smartly crafted music whose influences range from polka and country to Elvis Costello and cartoon music. "Freedom, as an artist, is really about doing something you think is good and not trying to second-guess what you're doing," says Linnell, the slight, typically low-key half of the duo. "Our music doesn't have a purpose.

Quirky rockers John Linnell and John Flansburgh might be giants, but they are also definitely one of the hottest theme-songwriting teams in Hollywood. Linnell and Flansburgh, who are better known as the band They Might Be Giants, were responsible for the opening song in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and recently recorded the theme song for WB's new series "The Oblongs." They also rewrote all of the music for Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." But the duo's theme dreams have reached new...

Almost in spite of themselves, They Might Be Giants have become just that. When this preppy-looking duo emerged from Brooklyn a few years ago, armed only with a guitar, an accordion and a trick bag full of two-minute pop songs, they were deemed an underground novelty, destined to make one quirky, enjoyable record, then disappear. Instead, John Linnell and John Flansburgh just keep getting bigger. Their third album, "Flood" (Elektra), shot to the top of the college/ alternative charts upon...

They Might Be Giants Factory Showroom (Elektra) (star) (star) (star) John Linnell and John Flansburgh pop off another groovy little vaudeville ditty with their fifth recording. The mirthful New York duo, accompanied by a capable five-man band, conjure a demented, riotously engaging "Factory Showroom" brimming with a warehouse of pop-culture references and musical homages. Part of They Might Be Giants' cult appeal is that, like the stage show, you never know which...

"People just know what our ultimate message is. They`re a little bit afraid they`re going to find out we`re involved in some kind of `mind conspiracy` or something. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we really are are the two guys down the street who write songs in their basement studio who have suddenly gone public. That's the only story. It's as challenging as that." It's understandable that people would be confused about John Flansburgh's band, They Might Be Giants.

The sound of discovery-of a band breaking down expectations and revealing something wholly unexpected-is thrilling. Long past the age when many of us should have "outgrown" rock `n` roll, we remain fans because the best of it still takes us by surprise. Two bands at Cabaret Metro over the weekend, They Might Be Giants and the Chills, rewarded that faith in varying degrees. They Might Be Giants, who entertained sellout crowds Saturday and Sunday, have surprised...

This weekend's Chicago sojourn of "McSweeney's vs. They Might Be Giants" was billed as a mighty collision between literature and music; an uber-hip extravaganza of man-mountains of staggering interdisciplinary genius. Author Dave Eggers, the ironist-editor of Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern -- that esoteric and always poorly copy edited literary quarterly -- sure can draw a crowd. And the typical fan of They Might Be Giants is a nice person with the patience to...

Almost in spite of themselves, They Might Be Giants have become just that. When this preppy-looking duo emerged from Brooklyn a few years ago, armed only with a guitar, an accordion and a trick bag full of two-minute pop songs, they were deemed an underground novelty, destined to make one quirky, enjoyable record, then disappear. Instead, John Linnell and John Flansburgh just keep getting bigger. Their third album, "Flood" (Elektra), shot to the top of the college/ alternative charts upon...